ELENA. The story of Elena Colombo, a child alone during the Holocaust.

On Wednesday, November 26, I attended the presentation of Fabrizio Rondolino‘s book ELENA. Story of Elena Colombo, a lonely child in the Shoah, published by Giuntina, organized by Villa Amoretti Civic Library of Turin with the support of the City of Turin and the patronage of the Jewish Community.
The author tells the true story of Elena, a Jewish girl from Turin during the persecutions, who faced arrest, deportation, and her final fate alone—events of which, however, only a few traces have been found. Yet in Rondolino’s pages, Elena lives on through the friendship of those who knew her in elementary school and the affection of those who were close to her during the dark months she and her family were hidden. The author reconstructs an intimate family lexicon from fragments of memories of her short life, recounted by a cousin, some classmates from third grade, and the heirs of those who helped her hide. Elena’s strength remains imprinted in the memories of the stories these heirs heard, even though they never knew her personally. A vibrant Elena emerges, captivating those she meets, even briefly, and thus becoming immortal. The book is accompanied by some rediscovered photos of Elena and her family, letters, and postcards that help the reader vividly define not only Elena’s appearance but also her distinctive personality.
Furthermore, the author’s personal story is intertwined with that of the little girl, as Elena’s cousin is also Rondolino’s grandmother. Therefore, by recalling the stories, listening to the testimonies of those still with us, and consulting documents, the author was able to retrace the history of his own family and its traditions.
The engaging dialogue between historian Alberto Cavaglion and Fabrizio Rondolino led us into Elena’s world, enriching us and helping us identify lucid perspectives from which to observe the events of the historical moment we are living.
Also present in the room were Laura Ravenna Tedesco, Elena’s third-grade classmate and a precious witness to her life, and Piera Billotti Marinoni, who in 2020 had the Stumbling Stone placed at Via Piazzi 3 in Turin, in memory of the Colombo family. Piera’s great-grandfather had rented premises for Elena’s father, Sandro, for his business on Via Piazzi.
On behalf of the Community, I thank Stefania Marengo and her staff at Villa Amoretti Civic Library for their deep and motivated interest and commitment to the presentation of this book, and the reading groups of Villa Amoretti and Leggere Claudiana for their attention to the themes addressed in the work. Stefania Marengo has been involved for years in projects promoting the reading of works, often concerning the Jewish world.

Maria Grazia Vaccaro Levi